After some time, Zodiac and the others return to the base, requesting Crumpy to use the crystal once more. Crumpy claps his hands twice, opening the door as Zodiac hurries downstairs.
Himitsu: I haven't seen him in such a hurry for a long time.
Crumpy: Well, after revealing that Zuda is alive out there, he must have discovered something at her house.
Himitsu: It feels off, but I suppose we will have to see what unfolds.
As Himitsu and Crumpy reach the bottom of the basement, they find Zodiac standing near the locked door, gesturing for them to come over.
Zodiac: Come over here.
They approach him, puzzled about what is happening.
Crumpy: Alright, kid, before we proceed, what led you to believe she is alive?
Zodiac produces the letter and hands it to Crumpy.
Zodiac: Read it for yourself.
As Crumpy and Himitsu read the letter, their eyes widen in astonishment.
Crumpy: So it is true; she really is alive.
Himitsu: But how can we be certain that it was truly her who wrote it?
Crumpy: Based on the handwriting, this is undoubtedly Zuda's work. Additionally, she mentions the locked door, so it makes sense that Zodiac would want to come here. I never would have guessed she was the one who placed that door there.
Zodiac: Can we move forward now, or are we going to sit here and talk all day?
Crumpy chuckles.
Crumpy: Sure, go right ahead.
Zodiac takes out the black key and approaches the door. He inserts it into the keyhole and turns it, causing the door to glow. As the light intensifies, Crumpy senses impending danger as the door is about to explode.
Crumpy: Zodiac, watch out!
Zodiac retreats just as the door explodes, releasing a cloud of smoke. Himitsu begins to cough.
Himitsu: (Coughing) What the heck? Was this a trap?
Crumpy: Zodiac, are you alright?
Zodiac brushes off his clothes, appearing perfectly fine.
Zodiac: Yes, don't worry. Let's go inside.
The three of them venture in, where it is dark and a set of stairs leads further down.
Himitsu: More stairs! What is this place?
Crumpy: I'm just as surprised as you are. We're right behind you, Zodiac; lead the way.
Zodiac begins to descend the stairs as the others follow.
Himitsu: Man, I can barely see a thing.
Zodiac: We're almost to the last set of stairs; relax.
As they reached the final step and touched the floor, they found the room even darker, unable to see anything. As they walked forward, the lights on the wall illuminated one by one, revealing a glass case of weapons at the end of the wall and clothes on a rack.
Himitsu: Is there a weapon in that case? Why would she hide something like this?
Zodiac: The letter mentioned that this was supposed to be my birthday gift as a surprise, but obviously, she's not here.
Crumpy: She created this room without informing me; it must be something special.
As they approached the weapon case, they saw dual blades with an intricate design inside, the blades a sharp blue color, with chains attached to both ends of the handles. Crumpy began to cry.
Himitsu: Are you crying?
Crumpy: Those blades are beautiful!
Zodiac shook his head. Himitsu then noticed a note in the case.
Himitsu: Um… guys, there's a note in the case.
Zodiac opened the case, picked up the note, and unfolded it. As he read it, his eyes widened.
Crumpy: What is it, Zodiac? What does it say?
He dropped the note and turned to the others.
Zodiac: It says, "Happy birthday, Zodiac the Zatarian."
Himitsu and Crumpy looked shocked.
Himitsu: ZATARIAN!? WHAT!?
Crumpy: Is that really what it says, Zodiac?
Zodiac: Y-yes, but I don't even know what it means. What is a Zatarian, and how does that make me one?
Himitsu began to think, recalling something from the past.
Himitsu: It's all starting to make sense now!
Zodiac: What is it? Speak up.
Himitsu: Zodiac, do you remember the day Leorea was raided by those Nitharians?
Zodiac: Yes, but what does that have to do with me being a Zatarian?
Himitsu: Those individuals were searching for a child who was a Zatarian, right? I believe they were looking for you all along!
Crumpy: Not to mention, Zuda also inquired if you were a Zatarian before I trained you. And you have that unusual tattoo on your neck.
Himitsu: Don't you see, Zodiac? All these clues are adding up. It must be true. Furthermore, the guard mentioned Zatarians, indicating that there is more than one.
Zodiac: No, it can't be!
Crumpy: What about the weapons?
Zodiac turns to examine the dual blades once more. He reaches out, takes hold of them, and inspects their design. As he does, chains begin to encircle his forearms, tightening and glowing momentarily.
Zodiac: What is happening?
His hair flickers rapidly, glowing white, and his neck tattoo illuminates as well. He experiences visions of a mysterious figure wielding the same weapons, aiming them directly at him.
Himitsu: Crumpy, what is happening to Zodiac?
Crumpy: I don't know!
The vision dissipates, and his hair and tattoo return to their normal state, leaving him sweating and breathless as the chains release from his forearms.
Himitsu: Zodiac, are you okay?
He looks at Himitsu.
Zodiac: You might be right, Himitsu. I believe I may be a Zatarian after all.
As Zodiac contemplates his potential Zatarian identity while gazing at Himitsu and Zodek, Rito and Zenshi seat Daru in Zenshi's living room alongside her father.
Rito: Alright, kid, I honestly don't know where to begin.
Greg: So, umm… why is everyone gathered in the living room?
Zenshi: Because, Dad, we need to have an important discussion with Daru.
Greg: Couldn't this wait or take place elsewhere? I'm trying to watch my TV show.
Rito: I apologize, Greg, but Zenshi insisted we do it here.
Zenshi: Yes, I did. I'm sorry, Dad.
Daru: CAN YOU JUST GET TO THE POINT!! I'VE BEEN SITTING HERE THIS WHOLE TIME!
Rito: Okay… there's no need to yell.
Zenshi: Alright, so a wh—
Rito: You're a Zatarian.
Daru: Huh!?
Zenshi: RITO!!! YOU IDIOT.
Rito: (Laughs) Sorry, you were taking too long.
Zenshi: I JUST STARTED SPEAKING.
Rito: (Laughs) It felt like you were talking for five minutes.
Daru: So, what does that mean?
Rito: What's what?
Zenshi: (Shakes her head) I'm going to lose it! A ZATARAIN, RITO!! HE'S ASKING WHAT A ZATARAIN IS!
Rito: Oh right! You're an alien.
Daru: ALIEN!! I'M AN ALIEN.
Zenshi: Okay, Rito, enough.
Rito: What? He asked.
Greg stands up and walks away as Zenshi begins to reprimand Rito again.
Zenshi: (Puffs) Okay.
Rito: Why do you yell so much?
Daru: Okay, guys, can you just tell me what's going on, please?
Rito: Alright, alright.
Zenshi crosses her arms while Rito prepares to speak.
Rito: Long ago, there was a couple named Heroma (Father) and Onegi (Mother) who had three sons: twin brothers Solaris, Wish, and Shakiro.
Daru: Who was considered the strongest among them?
Rito: (Laughs) Many believed Shakiro to be the strongest.
Daru: Shakiro must have been really strong then.
Rito: Indeed, he was. Heroma was well-known across all dimensions; he had a close friendship with the Vampires and a childhood friend named Naburo.
Daru: That's fascinating! Have you ever met any of them?
Zenshi: No, they were from a different dimension.
Daru: A different dimension? That's incredible!
Zenshi: Yes, but everything changed when the war occurred.
Daru: WAR?!?
Rito: Zenshi, are you going to allow me to explain the story?
Zenshi: My apologies.
Rito: As I was saying, the three brothers were very close. Heroma trained them to work together, to fight side by side, and to always look out for one another. They protected Planet Zataria, their birthplace.
Daru: They sound like an unstoppable force.
Rito: Absolutely! (Laughs) However, as time passed, they all entered into relationships, which eventually led to marriage.
Daru: Aww, come on, that sucks! You have all that power and you don't use it anymore just to get a wife… lame.
Zenshi: Daru, having a wife is not lame.
Daru: I suppose not, but it just feels that way.
Zenshi laughs.
Rito: (Looks at Zenshi) Are you going to let me continue?
Zenshi: TALK THEN!
Rito: After marrying, Heroma and Onegi encouraged them to leave Zataria to pursue their own lives. They ventured into different dimensions to establish their own families.
Daru: So, that's the end of the story?
Rito: Oh no, we are merely beginning. After they started building their families, a couple of years passed before Wish and Solaris were attacked by monsters.
Daru: Monsters?
Rito: Yes, monsters; they referred to themselves as the Nitharians.
Daru: I recognize that name!
Rito: Indeed. Following the attack, everything they had built was destroyed, and tragically, their wives perished as well. However, the attacks did not occur simultaneously; they transpired at various intervals. Afterward, Wish and Solaris returned to Zataria for safety, unaware that the Nitharians had followed them.
Daru: That's truly heartbreaking. But what about Shakiro? Why didn't he return?
Rito: (Laughs) You're an attentive listener. I didn't mention him earlier because he was the most intelligent of the brothers. He chose to go to a place that Zatarians typically avoid, as his father had advised against it.
Daru: What is it called?
Rito: He traveled to a place called Mereli, where no one can sense your energy.
Zenshi: That's quite clever.
Rito: After a few years there, he had two children—one was a year old, and the other was 12 months. Six days later, Shakiro discovered something and decided to return to Zataria.
Daru: What did they discover?
Zenshi: Yes, what did they find?
Rito: (Laughs) I have no idea.
Daru and Zenshi: Oh man…
Rito: (Laughs) Upon their return, Shakiro and Sauro witnessed a war and saw people dying. He observed the Nitharians and Zatarians in conflict, as well as the Vampires assisting the Zatarians. When Shakiro arrived, he found his brothers and parents dead on the ground. He cried out in anguish, urging Sauro to get the babies to safety. She rushed to the teleportation pad, sending them away to different locations. As for the names of the babies, I only know one.
Daru: What is the name?
Zenshi: His name is Daru.
Daru's eyes widened.
Daru: WHAT! ME? AND I HAVE A SIBLING?
Rito: Yes, I understand it's a lot to process.
Daru stands up and begins to pace.
Daru: My father is Shakiro, and I have a sibling.
Zenshi: Yes, your parents are Shakiro and Sauro.
Daru: Do you know where my sibling is?
Rito: No, I don't, but (looks up at the sky) I suspect they cannot be far.
Meanwhile, Zodiac and Daru were being questioned about their identities and origins. As Naburo dispatched Akuma and others to locate the Zatarians, Akuma sat at his headquarters in Natharis, reviewing papers and maps, strategizing his search. After a moment, a Nitharian soldier opened Akuma's door and entered. Akuma paused his work and regarded him.
Nitharian Soldier: (Bows) Captain Akuma! I have returned to report.
Akuma: Speak.
Nitharian Soldier: We have not yet found any information regarding those children.
Akuma: (Laughs) So you enter here and interrupt my study merely to inform me of nothing?
The Nitharian soldier became anxious and began to panic.
Nitharian Soldier: N-no, I didn't intend to disrupt you.
Akuma approached the soldier, still laughing.
Akuma: If you didn't intend to disrupt me, then why are you here?
The soldier remained silent, too frightened to respond.
Akuma: Oh, so you choose not to speak now?
Nitharian Soldier: No, sir, I just wanted to le—
Before the soldier could finish, Akuma swiftly slit his throat with his blade.
Akuma: CLEAN UP!
He shouted for assistance as Nitharian soldiers rushed in to carry the deceased soldier out of the room.
Akuma: Ensure you clean the blood off my floor.
Nitharian Soldiers: (In the distance) Yes, sir!
Akuma returned to his table, resuming his work. As he refocused on the papers, someone knocked on the door.
Akuma: (Not looking up) Speak.
Hinoka: Is this how you choose to address me? (laughs)
Akuma looked up to see Hinoka approaching him.
Akuma: You better have good news for me.
Hinoka: (laughs and smiles) I always do.
Akuma: So wh—
Before Akuma could finish, Hinoka vanished in front of him, pressing a knife to his neck.
Hinoka: I don't think you heard me.
Akuma: And I don't think you heard me.
As Hinoka felt a sharp pain in her stomach, she noticed Akuma's blade pressing against her abdomen.
Hinoka: (laughs) You're always so much fun.
Hinoka kissed Akuma on the lips, and he reciprocated.
Akuma: Hmm.
Hinoka: So, as I was saying, dear, I have something to tell you.
Akuma: I'm listening.
Hinoka: I overheard some individuals discussing children and a grown man spotted in the destroyed city.
Akuma: Leoroa?
Hinoka: Mhm.
Akuma: How did you learn this?
Hinoka: I have my sources.
Akuma: Which sources?
Hinoka: Oh, you know I can't tell you that (laughs). You'll scare them away with your big bad wolf look (laughs).
As Hinoka finished speaking, Shimasu walked in.
Shimasu: The village.
Akuma: Excuse me?
Shimasu sat down on Akuma's couch.
Hinoka: Do you think it's acceptable to just barge in here?
Shimasu: Sorry, I didn't realize I walked into a clown fest.
Hinoka rushed toward him.
Hinoka: (laughs) You feeling lucky, punk?
Shimasu: (smirks) The only punk here is you.
Akuma: Enough!
Hinoka: You're fortunate, Shimasu (laughs).
Shimasu: (smirks) I am, or are you?
Akuma: What about the village?
Shimasu rose from the couch and walked past Hinoka.
Shimasu: The village in dimension #1236 was struck by the explosion from your father's blast while fighting Shakiro during the war years ago.
Akuma: How did you come by this information?
Shimasu: One of the soldiers had his arms ripped off by a child.
Akuma: When did this occur?
Shimasu: I believe this occurred a few years ago.
Akuma: (Laughs) A few years ago? Is that correct?
Shimasu: Yes, that is what he mentioned.
Akuma: Bring him in here.
Shimasu nods and goes to locate the soldier.
Hinoka: What is his role on the team?
Akuma: I am certain he would pose the same question regarding you, Hinoka.
Hinoka huffs and crosses her arms. Shimasu returns with the soldier, who is missing an arm.
Akuma: Speak.
Nitharian Soldier: (Nervously) We were in dimension #1236, and I dispatched some troops to search for anyone with a Zatarian tattoo.
Akuma: Why did you not inform me of this when it occurred?
Nitharian Soldier: I-I was afraid to tell you because I thought you would kill me.
Akuma: Hmm. Well, if you had told me, I wouldn't have killed you.
Nitharian Soldier: Wait! Is that true?
Akuma: (Hands up) Of course not.
Nitharian Soldier: (Bows) Oh! Okay, I assure you this will not happen again.
Hinoka: (Arms crossed) Can you expedite your account?
Nitharian Soldier: Okay, they found some people on the east side, tied them up, and started questioning them, but none knew what we were talking about.
Shimasu: Get to the point already!
Hinoka: (Laughs) If you don't hurry, I'm going to rip your other arm off.
Nitharian Soldier: Ah, understood! Some soldiers and I proceeded to investigate, but…
Akuma: But what? Spit it out!
Shimasu approaches the soldier and strikes him on the back of the head, causing him to fall to the ground.
Akuma: SPEAK!
Nitharian Soldier: Upon my arrival, Glem was deceased.
Akuma: Who the hell is Glem?
Nitharian Soldier: (Crying) He was my brother.
Akuma: (Laughs) That is quite amusing.
Nitharian Soldier: How can you laugh? He took my brother's life!
Akuma: (Looking at the soldier) He?
Nitharian Soldier: Yes, the child!
Akuma: Describe this child. What did he look like?
Nitharian Soldier: All I know is that he was exceptionally strong. I have never encountered anything like it; he had glowing purple hair.
Hinoka: Purple glowing hair?
Shimasu: There is more to the story.
Shimasu strikes the soldier again.
Shimasu: TALK!
Nitharian Soldier: (Holding his head) Alright, alright! He had glowing purple hair and unusual veins running across his body. When I struck him, he felt nothing; he merely smiled the entire time.
Akuma: That is enough.
Nitharian Soldier: What? No, I am not finished; there is more.
Akuma: That will be sufficient. You may leave now.
Nitharian Soldier: What about my brother?
Akuma: Ah, yes. Please convey my regards to him.
Nitharian Soldier: Wh—
At that moment, Hinoka severs the soldier's other arm and forcefully drives it into his face, resulting in a gruesome impalement.
Hinoka: You took too long to get to the point.
Akuma: Did I instruct you to kill him?
Hinoka: Wasn't that your intention?
Akuma: No, I was going to feed him to JAX.
Hinoka: I suppose that would have been entertaining to witness.
Shimasu: What is our next course of action?
Akuma: Now we must locate the Zaratian and return them to Naburo.